Sunstone Resort Communities, Kananaskis Way, Canmore

A new 159-unit rental apartment from Sunstone Resort Communities (highlighted in blue) is to be built along Kananaskis Way in Canmore. The building was approved by Canmore council on Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2018.Ullyot, Russ/BA

The planned exterior for a new 159-unit rental apartment from Sunstone Resort Communities to be built along Kananaskis Way in Canmore. The building was approved by Canmore council on Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2018.Ullyot, Russ/BA

Council approved a development permit for a five-storey, 159-unit residential building at 120 and 130 Kananaskis Way on Tuesday, Sept. 4. The building site is a small moustached shaped woodland area paralleling the Trans-Canada Highway.

Mayor John Borrowman said during discussions he was pleased to see private developers taking an interest and stepping up to aid in Canmore’s rental housing shortage.

“Up until two or three years ago, there were no [private development] rental purpose-built buildings in Canmore, and the Town of Canmore was trying to address the housing shortage essentially on its own, which is really something the municipality is not well situated and well set to manage,” said Borrowman. “So, to have the private sector to begin the work with the town, with the (Northview Real Estate Investment Trust) property, the Coast [Hotel] property and this property along Kananaskis Way … adds approximately 400 new apartment rentals which makes a big difference for the Town of Canmore and the people who live and work here.”

The Northview Real Estate Investment Trust or REIT property consists of 148 units under construction on Palliser Trail lands on the north side of the Trans-Canada Highway. The Coast apartments are 90 units to be built on Coast Hotel property land adjacent to the newest approved development.

The Kananaskis Way build by Sunstone Resort Communities, based out of Winnipeg, will include 20 studio units, 83 one-bedroom units and 56 two-bedroom units has been designed by Norr Architects Engineers Planners of Calgary.

The project originally came before council in November 2017 and received a public hearing that month before going to second and third readings in March.

At his past week’s approval meeting, council members did express concern over off-site parking around the new development. There will be 160 resident parking stalls, but they will not be bundled with rental agreements instead the stalls would come under a separate agreement for those that require on-site parking. There are also 15 visitor stalls.

Noting that there will be some that choose to park on the road rather than pay for parking, Town of Canmore development planner Tracy Woitenko said it may be something that needs to be looked at in future if it becomes an impactful problem under current strategies.

“I was wondering if this was a time when we should begin some restrictive, permanent strategy, but I don’t think this is the right time,” said Mayor John Borrowman.

“I do think we are going to see a few impacts when it comes to parking arrangements, but this is our first kick at the cat,” said Councillor Joanna McCallum. “The only way to identify what the rub is is to let the rubbing happen.”

In addition, the developer is providing 262 bicycle storage spaces, of which 208 are located indoors. These include 76 bike racks in the parkade and 132 stalls located in two bike storage rooms on the main level.

With the increase in population density in the area, the developer was subject to $243,506.91 in off-site levies to help the Town of Canmore with current and expected future services along the affected corridors in the area.

The new development meets or exceeds all the current Direct Control District requirements when it comes to noise reduction, landscaping, and amenities including a playground, covered barbecue and seating areas, and outdoor public art space. The building even features a rooftop patio in its plans.

Also, included in the building package are developer-funded upgrades to the urban road profile, including curbs, gutters, sidewalks and pedestrian crosswalks, at the elbow shaped entrance to the new property.

There are still a number of steps that need to be taken before the expected cost and timelines are known on this project. Still outstanding are the development agreement being signed, management plan filed and building permit requested and issued for construction.